Greek - Roman theatre image

Greek - Roman theatre

Tourist attraction Historical landmark Performing arts theater

One of the Most Reviewed Historical landmarks in Catania


Address

Via Vittorio Emanuele II, 266, 95124 Catania CT, Italy

Contact

+39 095 715 0508

Rating on Google Maps

4.40 (6.4K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Sunday: 9 am to 7 pm
  • Monday: 9 am to 7 pm
  • Tuesday: 9 am to 7 pm
  • Wednesday: 9 am to 7 pm
  • Thursday: 9 am to 7 pm
  • Friday: 9 am to 7 pm
  • Saturday: 9 am to 7 pm

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: Catania (17) history (14) ancient (14) site (14) theater (13) visit (11) buildings (11) Roman (11) theatre (10) information (9)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Sougata B. 1 year ago on Google
    Whether you're a history buff, a lover of ancient architecture, or simply a curious traveler, the Teatro Romano di Catania is a must-visit attraction in Catania. Its historical significance, architectural beauty, and panoramic views make it a memorable experience that will transport you back in time. Although its not well maintained but it’s still beautiful and recommended to visit. You need to buy ticket which costs 6 euros.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Richard K. 6 months ago on Google • 1601 reviews
    Great place to see. Amazing how it's I. The city is surrounded by local buildings. A must-see, it's affordable and great opportunity for pictures
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Maciej & Elena G. 1 year ago on Google
    If you are going to Catania even for one day I totally suggest to pay a visit to this Teatro. It’s only 6 euros (kids go free) and it’s a magical place which takes you back in time. It’s merged within the modern city, easy to find and you do not need to pre book tickets. You can visit it in less than an hour and it’s a nice break from the hustle of the city.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Eduard M. 1 year ago on Google
    It looks and feels legitimately ancient. Worth the 6 euro entrance fee. Considerable work seems to have been put into restoring some pieces so that you get the full picture. Some interior parts were temporarily not accessible to the public. Not a lot of information is available on location about what you are looking at.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Momchil B. 9 months ago on Google • 831 reviews
    Well, that's a must-see sightseeing in Catania. You pay a six euro ticket and can enjoy the left behinds of this old Greek - Roman theater and the so-called Odeon. That's a perfect spot for taking great pictures and diving into prehistoric times for a while. It's also crazy to see how newer buildings are built on top of ancient ruins while the layers are well to distinguish.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Nicolas B. 7 months ago on Google • 119 reviews
    Nice place for a quick visit. It is amazing that such place are still there after all those years. The visit price is not that expensive and the man at the entrance was friendly.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Lily M. 8 months ago on Google • 5 reviews
    A beautiful site in central Catania, even with a 6€ entry fee, it's definitely worth the visit. The complex is small, literally nestled in between two streets, but there are a few areas to look around. There are multiple boards with information on the history of the theatre and its various objects. The only minor downer is that a few of the areas were blocked off when I visited *in July 2023. If you are interested in the diverse history of Sicilia, Greek or Roman architecture, or are just looking for a less crowded spot to sit and enjoy the sun for a little while, this ancient site should be on your list to visit!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Vix N. 1 year ago on Google
    Beautiful place, sadly the tunnels and viewing point were closed, however I would still recommend visiting. It’s so amazing that all that is just hidden away by buildings surrounding it!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Abdulkarim A. 1 year ago on Google
    The Roman Theater of Catania consists of site with the ruins of two open air semicircular Ancient Roman theaters, located between Piazza San Francesco, via Vittorio Emanuele in the center of Catania, region of Sicily, southern Italy. The site consists of the larger theater and a smaller semicircular theater, an Odeon. The structure is part of the Parco archeologico greco-romano di Catania.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Tom H. 1 year ago on Google
    €6 entry, but the vomitoria (passages behind/beneath the seats) were all closed. All in all, only about half of the theatre complex was open. There are about six boards with information, both in Italian and English, but overall information was very limited.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Bartosz P. 2 years ago on Google
    An amazing piece of ancient history, well preserved for what it takes. The surrounding buildings look a bit like corals growing on the other species to me - they are organically merged with the amphitheatre. The place itself is full of information, the boards contain information in both Italian and English. The only issue I had with the site is the fact that it seems a bit like a work in progress- some parts of the amphitheatre are well restored whereas the others seem like an ordinary ruin. I recommend strolling alone through one of the corridors under the stands, to feel the awe of the history around - that was a cathartic experience for me.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ozzy E. 2 years ago on Google
    Impressive little piece of old history. Much more visible and preserved than other theater, as well as well immersed in the surrounding buildings. The volcanic rock as building materials creates very eerie vibe.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Michael M. 4 months ago on Google • 247 reviews
    This was a highlight of my trip. This facility and the archaeological ruins of the Odeon are outstanding. Wow !!

  • 5/5 Diana W. 7 months ago on Google • 112 reviews
    Regular admission is €6 as of September 2023 and is well worth it, in my opinion. The Roman Theater was built in the 1st century CE over an existing Greek structure which dates from the 5th to 4th century BCE. The theatre was designed to accommodate about 7000 spectators in a semi-circle. After the end of the Roman Empire, much of the marble that decorated the theater was used to construct the Cattedrale di Sant’Agata, and other buildings were constructed over it. Excavation of the site began in the late 1700s and it is now used for occasional summer performances. There is also an Odeon on the site, with a capacity of about 1500 spectators.

  • 4/5 Azad P. 4 months ago on Google • 71 reviews
    Worth to see the Architectural masterpiece of its time. Although it’s not a huge theater but nice to visit at least once. Located in Catania Italy.

  • 5/5 Jana B. 7 months ago on Google • 57 reviews
    2 in 1 👍 Theatre + odeon: interesting rest of big bulding in the centre of Catania. Good place to think about meaning of culture in history 😉

  • 5/5 Bruce B. 7 months ago on Google • 24 reviews
    Fabulous excavated Greek amphitheater in Catania. Well worth the few Euros for admission. Take the time to view the Odeon at the top and behind the amphitheater which was a smaller enclosed amphitheater where music was played and poetry read.

  • 5/5 Chris M. 8 months ago on Google • 21 reviews
    Cool ancient theater. Well worth the price. You set your own pace. You can freely explore almost the entirety of the ancient structure.

  • 4/5 ΔΗΜΗΤΡΑ �. 1 year ago on Google
    Beautiful experience but I think that 6€ is a bit too much. It literally took as 15 minutes to see everything and the place at some points has trash. Also, lots of parts were not accessible. Overall it was very beautiful, though.

  • 5/5 Wisanu T. 1 year ago on Google
    Review: If you are a fan of ancient history, the Greek Roman theatre of Catania is a must-visit destination. The amphitheatre is well preserved and offers a glimpse into the grandeur of performances that must have taken place here centuries ago. One of the most striking aspects of this site is the way it blends into the surrounding architecture. The buildings seem to grow out of the theatre, creating an otherworldly atmosphere that transport visitors back in time. The Greek Roman theatre of Catania is rich with information, with most of the boards offering details in both English and Italian. You will get to learn about the amphitheatre's history, its architectural features, and the cultural significance of performances that took place here. There are some areas of the site that could benefit from further restoration, but this only adds to the sense of discovery visitors feel when exploring the site. The mix of restored and abandoned spaces creates an interesting contrast and allows visitors to experience different stages of the amphitheatre's history. One of the highlights of visiting the Greek Roman theatre of Catania is walking through the corridors under the stands. This is a unique experience that allows visitors to imagine the hustle and bustle of ancient performances. It is an ideal activity for anyone keen on history and architecture. Overall, the Greek Roman theatre of Catania is an excellent choice for those interested in ancient history. The site is well preserved and provides visitors with a truly immersive experience. Despite some ongoing restoration work, the amphitheatre remains an awe-inspiring testament to the achievements of ancient civilizations.

  • 5/5 Mike A. 10 months ago on Google
    This place is literally off of a main street. You would miss it if you didn't see the sign outside. As soon as you enter from the street, it's right there hiding in the back and is incredible to see something so old right beside something new like the streets of Catania. I recommend going for sure and just doing a quick walk around.

  • 4/5 Hawi J. 1 year ago on Google
    Interesting theater partially uncovered from buildings built over it. half of it is still covered with bed and breakfasts. The entrance was clumsy. The ticket taker was on the phone, talking to somebody while a long line of people to get in was being ignored. In the entrance, the displays were not lit up so you could not even see what was displayed, maybe the electricity was too expensive to put lights on them. Sad to see these Ancient relics are not respected properly. The restorations were done so you could not tell what was old and what was new. Lots of garbage around. Definitely a place to see though.

  • 5/5 HaSAN A. 1 year ago on Google
    Excellent antic theater ruins right in the middle of Catania. From outside it's hard to guess what is behind a regular looking building. It was restaured several times so it's integrated into the fabric of the city. Price of admission is a bit steep but well worth it anyway.

  • 2/5 Natasja S. 1 year ago on Google
    Ofcourse a beautiful place but full of weeds and in April when we came, about 40% was closed off so a bit overpriced. Tickets 6 euros, we went through in 10 minutes.

  • 3/5 J T. 1 year ago on Google
    All the interesting nooks and crannies of this wonderful ancient site were sadly cordoned off (Oct 2022). Not much information. Not well maintained. Not worth the full €6 ticket price if all visitors can see is only the main ‘stage’.

  • 3/5 Florian F. 1 year ago on Google
    Sadly practically all interesting elements are not accessible for no real reason so you're left with visiting just another amphitheatre for the 213th time but for 6€ entry fee. You get a cool view of the church and the theatre embedded in the buildings though

  • 4/5 Moshir D. 2 years ago on Google
    It was a nice spot to see, totally worth the 6€ entrance per person.

  • 5/5 Viktor G. 1 year ago on Google
    Reasonable price, clean enough toilet and a very interesting sight from both a historical as well as architectural perspective.

  • 3/5 Alien 1 year ago on Google
    Nice historic place to visit. Not big but it is good to visit. What I do not like is that the place around this theater is not clean. Just few meters before entrance to the theater there is garbage, and burnt garbage. It is really not good picture for tourist. Inside theater is nice and clean, but outside, at least 2-3 meters from theater should be clean.

  • 4/5 Szilvia K. 2 years ago on Google
    Typical Italian attitude. We had to pay the full prize but it was partly closed. Don't speak any languages :(

  • 5/5 Cliff H. 2 years ago on Google
    A stunning place to visit. Incredible and unbelievable

  • 3/5 Irina Mihaela D. 2 years ago on Google
    Intriguing monument, built out of volcanic rock. Not much can be seen because most of it is still under the streets and buildings around..that though only is something special.

  • 5/5 Rich J. 2 years ago on Google
    Just such an unbelievable hidden jem, whilst walking down the street just happened to look left through a window and couldn't believe my eyes, probably the best 5 euros spent, on hoilday to see such a well preserved amphitheatre.

  • 5/5 Daniel B. 2 years ago on Google
    It feels haunted, but in a good way. With a little imagination you can see the crowds rushing up the stairs, and the actors entering the stage. The city buildings that were built on top of it and the flooded stage add to the mystery. There is not much to see, but at the same time, the atmosphere here is amazing. If you are into ruins, you are in for a treat.

  • 5/5 Bea D. 2 years ago on Google
    Great site in the heart of the city. Such great value for money too. Stunning how the water flows through the theatre

  • 2/5 Florian 2 years ago on Google
    Overall impressive Roman architecture with an interesting history and a fair entrance fee of 6€. Unfortunately, the information boards are terrible to read and hard to unterstand in English (seem to be translated word-by-word from Italian). I would recommend to use google for some historical facts instead. Furthermore, the site was badly maintained with a lot of rubbish, cigarettes and bird excrements on the floor

  • 5/5 Viktor V. 2 years ago on Google
    Beautiful Teatro Romano, very ancient, I like that

  • 4/5 Mircea C. 2 years ago on Google
    Heard this place is nice if you are into this kind of things. They check the green pass at the entrance and this time of year not a lot of people are inside. Looks kinda dangerous to go down there and explore more.

  • 5/5 Rares M. 2 years ago on Google
    Love it here, being a ancient history fan, it's definitely worth it!!


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